Boat Owner Guide
Bottom paint is your hull’s first line of defense against growth, and choosing the right type makes every cleaning easier and every interval longer. Neither type is ‘better’ — they’re built for different boats.
Ablative paint is designed to wear away gradually, constantly exposing a fresh layer of biocide underneath — like a bar of soap slowly thinning with use. It stays effective as it wears, doesn’t build up thick over the years, and is forgiving for boats that sit more than they run. For many Pinellas County cruisers, it’s the easy default. The trade-off is that very frequent, aggressive cleaning can shorten its life, which is exactly why a gentle, regular touch matters.
Hard paint cures to a tough, smooth surface that doesn’t wear away with use. That makes it a strong fit for faster boats and for owners who clean often, since it stands up to regular contact without eroding. It holds a slick racing-style finish, but its biocide is eventually spent and it can build up over many seasons, so it favors boats that are used and cleaned consistently.
The paint and the cleaning schedule work as a team. Whichever you choose, gentle cleaning matched to your paint type makes it last longer and perform better. We identify your paint before we touch it and adjust our media accordingly — so you get the full life out of whatever’s on your hull.
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